What does, "Help People Know God" mean? What does it look like to "Practice the Way of Jesus"? What is New Song Church believe, and where are we headed as a church? In this series "Vision" our pastors will walk you through who we are, what we're pursuing, and where we're headed at New Song. Grab your notebook, get a pen, and lets dive in to the vision, mission, and pursuits of New Song!
Pursuing The Presence of God
Speakers
Josh Blount
Lead Pastor
Notes
First Time Guest? Let us know!
Habakkuk 2:2 Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.
Vision: Help People Know God
Mission: Practicing The Way of Jesus
Pursuit 1: The Presence of God
Pursuit 2: Transformational Discipleship
Pursuit 3: Kingdom Community
Pursuit 4: Sacrificial Mission
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint.
Vision: Help People Know God
Help People Know God = REAL RELATIONSHIP!
Helping people know God means we want to help people enter into the most real, authentic relationship of their lives—one with the God who created them.
Jesus didn’t die on the cross and shed His blood so you could know some facts about Him, He died on the cross and shed His blood so He could have a relationship with you.
John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
To know God is to experience life as it was always meant to be, full of purpose, meaning, and love.
Philippians 3:8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. 10 I want to know Christ and check this out: experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.
When we move from knowing about God to knowing God personally… we find that His power isn’t just a theory—it becomes a lived in reality.
Knowing God is not a one-time event; it's an ongoing journey and the deeper we go, the more we encounter His power at work in our lives.
Mission: Practicing The Way of Jesus
2 Corinthians 3:18 We are to be being transformed into [Christ’s] likeness
“Being transformed” refers to the process.
Romans 8:29 Predestined [all believers] to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.
“Conformed” refers to the finished product.
We’re on a a journey to become like Jesus!
Pursuit #1 The Presence of God
At New Song Church, we pursue the presence of God by seeking Him first and above all else.
Exodus 33:1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Depart and go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give it.’ 2 And I will send My Angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanite and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”
Exodus 33:12 Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’ 13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.”
Exodus 33:14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Exodus 33:15 “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.
The promise is not the point—God is the point.
God Is The Point
Exodus 33:17 So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”
God Wants To Be Wanted
There will be no manifestation of the presence of Christ without acute desire. God waits to be wanted. Sadly, He often must wait so very long. — A.W. Tozer
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
God doesn’t go where He’s not invited.
God shows up where He is invited.
God’s no party crasher, but He never leaves us hanging!
Exodus 33:18 “Please, show me Your glory.”
Exodus 33:19 Then God said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you.
In God’s Presence is God’s goodness.
01 In God’s Presence Is Strength
2 Chronicles 16:9 The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
02 In God's presence is fullness of joy
Psalms 16:11 In Your presence is fullness of joy;
03 In God's presence is rest
Exodus 33:14 The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."
04 In God's presence are secrets
Psalms 31:19-20 Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men! 20 You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence From the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion From the strife of tongues.
This verse saysGod has Goodness for you… that is hidden away… but It’s not hidden from you it’s hidden for you. And you find it as you pursue the presence of God.
05 In God's presence is help
Psalm 40 I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. 2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. 3 He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord.
God is the audience
The presence of God is not a luxury; it's a necessity
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Sermon Series || Vision Series - Presence of God || Philippians 3:8 “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”
When we move from knowing about God to knowing God personally he becomes more than just a theory. One a scale from 1-10 where would you rate your relational relationship with God. Is it personal (10) or informational (1).
What does it mean to you to be “being transformed” into the image of Christ?
This weekend Pastor Josh talked about God being the point and the audience not us. What areas of your life or at church have you found yourself being consider the point? What does it mean for you to maintain that God is the point?
God wants to be wanted - He does not go where He is not invited. How are you continuing to invite Him into your life?
Remember: in His presence is - Strength, Fullness of Joy, Rest, Help, and His Secrets for you! The presence of God is not a luxury it is a necessity!
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Kids of the Bible || week 8 “I am Honoring” || Josiah (2 Kings 22)
Power Verse: Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12
Discussion Questions:
What did Josiah become? King!
How old was he when he became king? 8 years old
Why was Josiah disappointed? People had neglected God's Word
What did Josiah do? Honored God's Word
How do we honor God's Word? By reading it and believing it
Who/what do you honor? -
Kids of the Bible || week 8 “I am Honoring” || Josiah (2 Kings 22)
Power Verse: Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12
Discussion Questions:
What did Josiah become? King!
How old was he when he became king? 8 years old
Why was Josiah disappointed? People had neglected God's Word
What did Josiah do? Honored God's Word
How do we honor God's Word? By reading it and believing it
Who/what do you honor? -
Faith || week 2 || David & Goliath (1 Samuel 17)
Power Verse: "Without faith it is impossible to please God." Hebrews 11:6a
Learn the Power Verse motions here!
Discussion Questions:
Who were God’s people? The Israelites
Who were God’s enemy? The Philistines
What was the name of the giant? Goliath
Why did David think he could win the battle? Because God was with him
What gave David faith? God’s Word
How many stones did David gather? 5
Where did the stone from the slingshot hit Goliath? In the head
Who won? David!
What can you do when you need faith? Say your power verse -
Faith || David & Goliath (1 Samuel 17) || same lesson all month!
Power Verse: "Without faith it is impossible to please God." Hebrews 11:6a
Learn the Power Verse motions here!
Discussion Questions:
Who were God’s people? The Israelites
Who were God’s enemy? The Philistines
What was the name of the giant? Goliath
Why did David think he could win the battle? Because God was with him
What gave David faith? God’s Word
How many stones did David gather? 5
Where did the stone from the slingshot hit Goliath? In the head
Who won? David!
What can you do when you need faith? Say your power verse